The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-26

Area of sousra miIaa SOC
Population ...........,.... 1870.
Assessed valuation, lSSG..... ........... SlOOO OOO
sTATlsTIcs OF sALADo.
Population. .................... 1000
Assessed valuation e5Ol,WO
SalhdO college pupils Observation-Disclosures. 1UU
Cotton shipments (per annum). ........... 2Ut
Merchandise sales 100000
Subsidy Offered, $500, to he paid as per Austin
contract, and twelve miles of right of way guar
anteed.
STATISTICS OF CORN HILL.
Cotton receipts (bslesJ 5,OOl
Right of way viii be gwen for ten miles, cOndi-
tionally viz: Depot grounds to be located in
one-fOurth mile of postotfice.
STATISTICS OF GEORGETOWN.
| reputation. .......................... 2,JU
| Assessed valuation Observation-Disclosures. 27O00lt
| Merchandise shipments ANNUALLY pounds 7.020,00l
Mechandiee received (pnuhds) .......... ID, 4OO,OU
Cotton shipments Annually bales. ..... S,0OC
Assessed valuati of Williamson county SS,5O0,0CC
Population of Williamson comfy. $4,000
| Southwestern university under control of NJ. E
church, south; average attendance, 300 pupils
Subscription, S13,U0, to be paid as per Austin
contract, ana under the following condition, VIZ
and on same side of river as town.
STATISTICS OF ROUND ROCK.
Annual cotton receipts (bales) ............ 5000
Annual grain shipments (cars) ............ 200
| Annual lime shipments Gears ............. 100
Annual wool shipments pounds). ........ 100000
Merchandise eales (per annum) ........... 25OOWO
Subscription, $500, to he paid IA per Austin
| contract.
Following the reading of these papers,
Mr.. Woodbridge submitted verbal report
on behalf Of Mr. Male and himself. show
ing the result of their conference with the
railroad officials at Texarkana. They and
their conferrees from along the proposed
route had a meeting and formulated the
outline of the argument to be presented.
They then by agreement met the officials,
before whom they placed all the data
of which they were in possession. The
statements were received and discussed,
and both surprise and qualification were
expressed at the presentation of facts.
| Major Kerens was especially well pleased,
and as Mr.. Woodbridge put it, if the
determination of the question, had rested
with him, the road would now, perhaps, be
under way. He stated emphatically that
the terminal facilities of the road at
Gainesville were not adequate, and that
line to Austin was desired. Against its
immediate construction, however, was
planted the lack of funds. Engage
| ahead that would command
every dollar that was at command.
Colonel Fordyce stated to them that it
had already been determined to go to
| Fort Worth in order to market east Texas
lun Der into the prairie country of west
Texas and the Panhandle. Lines had al
ready been projected from Tyler to
Beaumont, and from Texarkana
to Shreveport and beyond there.
No promises could be made for the
present.
Mr.. Woodbridge said that Col. Fordyoe
told the committee that other securities
would be placed perhaps in the fall, and
if so, this line would be considered, but if
any other opportunity presented itself, by
which the road could be secured, it should
be grasped. He further said that right
of way and terminal facilities were
of more Importance than mere cash sub
sidy. Preliminary surveys were promised
to be run inside of sixty days, to enable
all parties to determine the most feasible
route.
Mr.. Woodbridge called especial attention
to the fact that the subscriptions made
are good only for ninety days, and he
thought strong effort out to be made
to do something within that time
Speaking as an individual, he suggested
that Mr.. Male be sent to st. Louis to
again confer with Colonel Fordyce and
ascertain if something definite could not
be arranged. Mr.. Male said it would
be impossible for him to go, as
he was going to Virginia, and in
tended making the trip by water to
New York. Several gentlemen from
this on took part in the discussion, and
Mr.. Woodbridge and Major Evans took
decided ground that every possible hope
of getting the Cotton Belt folks
interested should be exhausted;
then, if nothing could be done,
try other roads, and if all failed, see what
can be done at home.
Major Evans said Austin ought to have
pluck and energy enough to build sixty
or seventy miles of road herself and he
believed it could be done.
Mr.. Bremond suggested that this meet
ing appoint committee to confer with |
the st. Louis, Arkansas & Texas, and also
with other roads.
Mr. Tips moved, and it was adopted,
that the verbal report of the committee |
be accepted and thanks be rendered to |
MesSrs. Male and Woodbridge for their
valable services.
Mr.. Male, during the discussion, stated
that Col j. P. Smith, who was the head of
the Fort Worth delegation at Texarkana,
told him that he had been at work for
eighteen months to secure branch of the |
Cotton Belt to Fort Worth, and had only |
Just then succeeded in getting favorable
of the proposition. |
The suggestion of committee to take the |
matter in hand was again brought up,
and after discussion by Messrs. Bremond,
Gaines, Handy, Cummings,
Woodbridge, Tips, Male and Evans, was
hnally shaped into resolution to appoint
an executive committee of five, to whom
the chairman should be added;
this coumittee to be placed
in special charge of all rail-
road, manufacturing or other industrial
propositions or enterprises relating to the
welfare and prosperity of the city of Aus
TIN, to be clothed with authority to confer
with railroad corporations, investment
Syndicates and manufacturing corpora
tions or interests relative to the develop
ment of local resources, and to have
power, whenever, in their opinion, it be
necessary to call meeting of citizens
to consider matters they may have to
present. This resolution met with
hearty reception, was unanimously